Mr. Speaker, this is an interesting question from the Opposition. No, I did not have the privilege of taking the high-speed train between Paris and Lille because I did not have any money at the time. I was only a backpacking student. I think I hitch-hiked. However, I had the privilege of taking the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka a few years ago. Believe me, the service was very good, except that Japan Rail has been privatized. It is not a profitable operation.
Talking about rail service, I would be the first one in my riding to be interested. As a member of Parliament, I feel that I am the legitimate spokesman for the riding of Bonaventure-Îles-de-la-Madeleine. If the hon. member opposite is interested in that riding, he should run against me in three or four years, if he really wants to become familiar with the issues.
Of course, there is not only the Port-Daniel cement plant but also Stone Consolidated, Abitibi Price and Tembec. Railways are used to the tune of $10 million to $20 million in that region but, again, we are still talking about the cement plant. Like any socio-economic regional development project, this one relies on rail service. To reassure the hon. member opposite, who sounds like he would like to represent the riding of Bonaventure-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, this project requires a great deal of study. Several steps must be taken. There are the environmental standards set by the Quebec government. I met with one of the developers.
I come from that area. My father was born in Port-Daniel; my family comes from there. Believe me, I am following this project with a great deal of interest. True, maintaining commercial rail service is important to any medium- or long-term economic development project in the Gaspé peninsula.